Machine for attaching sliders to slide fastener chains



G. PERRELLA Jan. 21, 1964 MACHINE FOR ATTACl-IING SLIDERS '1"0 SLIDE FASTENER CHAINS Filed Nov. 22. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l ENTOR @6&0

PATEN'I` AGENT Jan. 21, 1964 G. PERRELLA 3,118,219

MACHINE FOR AITACHING vSLIDERS To SLIDE FASTENER CHAINS Filed Nov. 22, 1961 s sheets-Sheet 2 n 7INVENTOR Jaa/6; mbfa/ BMWM@ zu@ PATEN'I AGEXT T LL MACHINE FOR ATTACHING SLIDERS To SLIDE FASTENER CHAINS Filed Nov. 22, 1961 G. PERRELLA y Jan. 21, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A PATENT AQEN'V United States Patent C) 3,118,219 MACHINE FR ATTACHING SLIDERS T SLIBE FASTENER CHAINS Guido Perrella, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Clin Fastener Corporation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Nev. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 154,365 l2- Claims. (Cl. .Z9-208) This invention relates to a slider attachment machine for applying sliders to slide fastener chains.

In the production of slide fasteners, the sliders are conventionally applied by hand to the slider chains consisting of two tapes each carrying elements interlocked with those of the other tape. Each tape has on the element carrying edge thereof a bead or cord over which the interlocking elements are fixed. Each chain normally has a plurality of series of interlocked fastener elements with intervening tape portions in which the adjacent corded edges are free of fastener elements. The slider is applied by inserting the adjacent corded edges of these intervening portions or" the tapes into the complementary slots or grooves of the slider.

This slider applying operation is necessarily awkward and time-consuming and requires the employment of skilled operators.

It is an object of this invention to provide a slider attachment machine for applying sliders to slide fastener chains which may be operated with a minimum of attention and skill on the part of the operator while performing the desired operation in a rapid and elfective manner.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional end elevation of the machine,

FIGURE 3 is a plan View ofthe machine,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional side elevation of a chain positioning portion of the machine,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5 5 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 6 is a partial end elevation,

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 6,

FGURE 8 is a plan view of a fastener chain showing a slider and certain machine parts associated therewith,

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation, in somewhat diagrammatic form, illustrating the machine and associated equipment, and

FIGURE l() is a diagram of a suitable electrical circuit for operating the machine.

Referring to the drawing, the machine illustrated is adapted to be employed in the application of sliders, one of which is indicated at l, to a conventional fastener chain 2 (FIGURE 8) comprising a pair of tapes 3 having adjacent corded edges 4, and interlocking fastener elements 5 mounted on the edges 4. The chain is usually of considerable length and consists of a series of sections 6 (each of any required length) fitted with interlocking fastener elements and intervening gapped sections 7 free from such elements. It will be appreciated that ultimately the chain is severed at the sections 7 to produce a plurality of slide fasteners, It will also be appreciated that a slider 1 must be applied to each section 6 to complete the fastener assembly.

The machine illustrated may be mounted on a table or like support 8 and comprises a base 9 fixed to the table. Mounted on the base is a fastener chain supporting guide it) having a centrally disposed groove 1I to receive the row of fastener elements 5 on the chain.

Means are provided for holding the fastener chain in place on the guide lil while permitting longitudinal travelling movement of the chain on the guide and comprises lllg Patented Jan. 2l, 1964 ICC an arm I2 pivotally mounted at 13 on a bracket 14 fixed to the base (FIGURES 6, 7) and carrying a guide 15 arranged to overlie the guide lil in spaced relation thereto for reception therebetween of the fastener chain. The guide l5 has a groove I6 complementary to groove Il for reception of the row of fastener elements. The portion of arm l2 carrying guide I5 is urged out of fastener chain holding relation with guide 10 by means of a spring 17 connecting the outer end of the arm with a iixed frame member 56 below the table. Means for retaining the arm in fastener chain holding relation cornprises a latch or catch i9 pivotally carried by the base at 255 and having a shoulder 2l for engagement with the top surface of the guide carrying portion of the arm. It will be apparent that the operator, in applying a fastener chain to the machine, will release the catch I9 thus permitting the guide l5 to swing away from guide lll and expose the latter for reception thereon of the fastener chain. After placing of the chain thereon the guide 15 is swung into holding relation and the catch I9 actuated to secure it in such relation.

Any suitable means are provided for causing the length of fastener chain to travel through the guides lll and 15. As shown in FIGURE 9, the fastener chain 2 is fed from a rotatably mounted spool 22 into the guides. Preferably, a slack take-up device such as a ladder 23 is interposed between the spool and the guides, the chain being run in zigzag fastener through the rungs 24 thereof. The chain is pulled from the spool 22 through the machine by reeling it upon a reel 25 driven by frictional contact therewith by a wheel or disc 26. Wheel 26 may be driven by a motor 27 operation of which is controlled by a solenoid 28 and switch 28a actuated thereby.

Mounted on the base in close proximity to the outlet end of guides lli and l5 is a slider locator 29 which comprises a block seated in the base and having a slider receiving recess 3i) in the surface thereof. It will be observed that the recess is shaped to conform to the contour of a slider and has flaring side walls 31 for engagement with the flared portion la of a conventional slider I and a neck portion 32 to reecive the neck 1b of the slider. rl`he recess 3@ is quite shallow whereby the slider slots lc in the side walls thereof are disposed above the recess. Furthermore, the tape cord receiving passages in the slider are disposed directly in the line of travel of the corded edges of the tapes 3. It will be observed that the flared end la of the slider is disposed in facing relation to the outlet of guides 1i) and l5.

A slider stop and tape spreader comprises a member 33 mounted vfor reciprocal vertical movement in the base and having a conical tip 34. Removably seated in the tip 34 is a U-shaped slider stop 35 having legs 36 and 37. As shown, leg 36 has greater radial extent than leg 37. The stop may be selectively positioned in the cone 34 whereby either leg 36 or 37 may be disposed for engagernent with the slider. Thus the stop will accommodate use of two conventional sizes of sliders. As shown in FIGURE l, in the uppermost position of member 33 leg 36 or 37 will constitute an abutment for flared end la of the slider. It will also be apparent that, as shown in FIGURE 8, when the member 33 is moved into uppermost position during location thereover of a gapped section '7, the conical tip 34 will spread the tapes apart and permit easy positioning of a slider therebetween i1 the locator 29. The member 33 is held from rotative movement by means of a set screw 38 in the base and having its end portion extending into a groove 39 in the member 33.

Means for imparting downward reciprocal movement to member 33 comprises a rod 46 fixed to the lower end thereof, a hanger 4I fixed to the lower end of the rod in transverse relation thereto, a wire or like link 42 suspended from the hanger, and a solenoid 43 having an operating plunger connected to the link 42. Energization of the solenoid will of course move the member 33 downwardly until the screw 3S engages the upper end wall of groove 3% at which point the end of the tip 3d. with stop 35 is disposed below the path of travel of the fastener chain.

Means vfor moving the member 33 upwardly in response to de-energization of the solenoid 43 comprises a spring hanger 45 fixed to the base and a pair of springs 46 connecting the hangers 45 and di. As member 33 reaches its uppermost position, i.e., in tape spreading and slider engaging position, it actuates a micro switch 47 through an extension 48 on the end of hanger 4i to de-energize solenoid 23 of the puller motor 27 and thus stop travelling movement of the chain.

Means for guiding the fastener elements into the slider in place in the locator 29 while the tapes are applied thereto comprises an arm 49 pivotally mounted on the base at 5t?. The arm 49 carries an insert 51 having a pair of depending tape-engaging surfaces 52 and an intervening groove 53 with converging side walls to engage and guide the fastener elements 5 into the slider. The arm 4Q is biased to swing the insert carrying end thereof away from the tapes, i.e., the position shown in FIGURE 2, by a spring 5S connected to the other end of the arm and to a bracket 56 fixed to a frame member 56a. Means for moving the insert-carrying end of the arm into tape-engaging relation comprises a rod 57 pivotally connected to the arm at 58 by a bracket 59, the rod lbeing vertically reciprocal in bracket Se. Below the bracket S6, the rod is provided with a pedal 69 mounted on the rod by a fitting 6l. It will be apparent that the operator may depress the pedal and thus move the insert-carrying end downwardly.

Means .for automatically stopping the travel of the fastener chain when a gapped section 7 thereof overlies the locator 29 comprises an arm 62 mounted for pivotal and reciprocal movement in the base by means of a pin 63 yfixed to the base and a slot 64 in the arm through which the pin extends. The upper end of the arm has a stop 65 arranged to protrude through the gap between the tapes when a gapped section 7 passes thereover but it will be apparent that the arm is depressable to permit riding of the stop upon the interlocking elements 5 between the tapes. The arm 62 is biased in an upward direction by means of a pair of springs 66 connected to the lower end of the arm and to the hanger 45. It will be apparent that since the springs 66 extend angularly forwardly `from the lower end of the arm, such springs will bias the arm to swivel about the pivot pin 63 and to swing the upper end of the arm rearwardly when in depressed position.

The lower end of arm 62 is connected by a link 67 to a latch `6% pivotally carried by a block 69 fixed to frame 56a. The latch carries a pin 7d receivable in a notch 71 in a plate 72 pivotally carried at 73 by a block 74 lixed to rod 57. Block 74 may also be provided with a depending guide rod 75 slidably extending through bracket 56.

It will be apparent that, when the rod 57 is moved downwardly by the operator it will carry with it plate 72, the first portion of such movement being permitted reciprocation of the pin 63 in slot 64 and the second portion of such movement being permitted by disengagement of the latch pin 7d from notch 71 by means of a pin 76 carried by a ybracket 77 xed to frame 56a and engageable with a cam surface 78 on plate 72 to swingY it away from the latch pin 76. The upper part of arm 62 engages a switch 79 which is actuated in the uppermost position of the arm to de-energize solenod 43 and cause rod d and tip 3e to move upwardly into tape spreading and slider engaging relation. Disengagement of the latch pin 7G will of course permit the springs 66 to swing the upper part of arm 62 rearwardly to ac- Y il tuate the switch and permit energization of solenoid 43.

As rod it? reaches the bottom of its downward stroke it strikes one arm of a pivotally mounted lever di thus causing the other arm S2 of the lever to move upwardly. Arm 82 at this stage is in engagement with block 74tand thus applies pressure to the block 74 and rod S7 to urge them upwardly. The operator, in response to the application of such pressure on the foot of the operator, will release the pedal and allow rod 57 to move upwardly thus Swingino upwardly the insertcarrying end of arm 49.

ln the tape holding position of the arm 49, the end thereof remote from the insert-carrying end engages an actuating member 83 of a micro switch 84s to energize the puller solenoid 23 to cause travel of the fastener chain.

A photoelectric cell S5 energized by a light source `86 mounted in the table S is disposed between the puller mechanism and the slider applying mechanism. The cell 25 and light source 86 are disposed on opposite sides of the path of travel of the fastener chain and when a .gapped section 7 reaches a position between the cell and light source, the light source will pass through the gap in the tapes and energize the cell which in turn energizes solenoid 43 to move member 33 and tip 34 downwardly.

The electrical circuit is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURE l0.

In operation, with the puller solenoid 28 de-energized, the fastener chain stopped in its travel, the spreader and slider stop tip 34 in uppermost position and protruding through a gapped section 7 of the chain, and the stop 65 in engagement with a slider stop at the end of length of interlocking elements 5, the operator places a slider in the locator, as shown in FIGURE l. The operator then depresses the pedal and swings arm 4% into tape guiding position, such movement also depressing arm 62 and stop 65 which is free to swivel beneath the chain. When the arm 49 is in tape guiding position, it actuates switch 84 to energize puller solenoid 2S and the chain begins a sequence of travelling movement, which forces the chain cords to enter the slider.

When the gap in the fastener chain passes between the cell 85 and its light source, the cell is energized to in turn energize solenoid 43 to depress the spreader and slider stop conical tip 34 to permit a section 6 to pass over the machine.

As rod 40 (carrying the conical tip 34) reaches the bottom of its stroke, it hits lever arm 81 and thus signals the operator to release the rod 57 and permit it to move upwardly in the manner previously described. Thus theV stop 65 moves up into engagement with the fastener chain and rides thereunder until the next gapped section 7 reaches the point of engagement when the arm 64 and stop 65 complete their upward movement under the inluence of springs 66, with the stop 65 protruding through the gap in the chain.

This nal movement of arm 64 causes actuation of switch 79 and de-energization of 43 which causes the rod it? and its conical tip 34 to also move up through the gap.

As rod 40 moves upwardly it actuates switch e7 to de-energize puller solenoid 2S and cause the sequence of travelling movement of the fastener chain to cease.

The same sequence of operating steps is then repeated to apply another slider.

l claim:

1. A machine for applying sliders to slide fastener chains which comprises a supporting base, a fastener chain guide mounted on said base and having a generally horizontal surface defining a fastener chain path of travel and having a fastener chain entrance end and an exit end,

Y a fastener chain puller located adjacent said exit end, said surface having a slider-receiving recess therein, an arm swingably mounted on said base and having a fastener chain-engaging position, said arm in said position having a portion overlying said guide surface between said recess and said entrance end, said arm portion having a pair of depending ribs and a surface joining said ribs and defining a fastener tape cord-guiding groove, said groove surface being in substantially parallel spaced relation to said guide surface, said ribs converging towards and substantially terminating at said recess in said arm position, a tape spreader rod reciprocally mounted in said base about an axis perpendicular to said guide surface, said rod having an upper position, a lower position, and a fastener chain gap-receivable tip disposed in said path of travel between said recess and said exit end in said upper position and out of said path of travel in said lower position, said tip having a slider-engageable portion adjacent said recess, means for swinging said arm into and out of said position, and means for moving said rod into said upper and lower positions thereof.

2. A machine for applying sliders to slide fastener chains as defined in claim l, including a control for said puller having a first switch for starting and stopping said puller, spring means biasing said tape spreader rod into said upper posiiton thereof, power means for depressing said tape spreader rod into said lower position thereof, spring means connected to said arm and biasing it out of said fastener-chain-engaging position, a second rod reciprocally and vertically mounted in said base and connected to said arm to move it to said fastener-chain-engaging position, a fastener chain-stop releasably carried by said second rod, said stop having a rst position in which said stop is disposed above said guide surface in said path of travel and a second position in which said stop is disposed below said guide surface and out of said path of travel, said stop being movable into said second position thereof in response to downward movement of said second rod, spring means biasing said sto into said first position thereof, a second switch actuabie by said when in said fastener-chain-engaging position to actuate said first switch and energize said puller, photoelectric means between said spreader rod and said puller and fastener chain-gap responsive to energize said power means and depress said spreader rod, a third switch actuable by said stop when in said first position thereof to deenergize said power means and permit said spreader rod to move into said upper position, and a fourth switch acttnable by upward movement of said spreader rod to actuate said first switch to de-energize said puller.

3. A machine for applying sliders to slide fastener chains as defined claim 2, said chain stop being pivot ally and reciprocally mounted in said base and having limits of upward and downward reciprocal movement, said chain stop being in said path of travel at said upward limit and below said path of travel at said downward limit, and latch means connecting said chain stop and rod and releasable therefrom at said downward limit.

4. A machine as defined in claim 1, said slider engageable portion being removably mounted in said tip and having selective slider abutting parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A MACHINE FOR APPLYING SLIDERS TO SLIDE FASTENER CHAINS WHICH COMPRISES A SUPPORTING BASE, A FASTENER CHAIN GUIDE MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SURFACE DEFINING A FASTENER CHAIN PATH OF TRAVEL AND HAVING A FASTENER CHAIN ENTRANCE END AND AN EXIT END, A FASTENER CHAIN PULLER LOCATED ADJACENT SAID EXIT END, SAID SURFACE HAVING A SLIDER-RECEIVING RECESS THEREIN, AN ARM SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND HAVING A FASTENER CHAIN-ENGAGING POSITION, SAID ARM IN SAID POSITION HAVING A PORTION OVERLYING SAID GUIDE SURFACE BETWEEN SAID RECESS AND SAID ENTRANCE END, SAID ARM PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF DEPENDING RIBS AND A SURFACE JOINING SAID RIBS AND DEFINING A FASTENER TAPE CORD-GUIDING GROOVE, SAID GROOVE SURFACE BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO SAID GUIDE SURFACE, SAID RIBS CONVERGING TOWARDS AND SUBSTANTIALLY TERMINATING AT SAID RECESS IN SAID ARM POSITION, A TAPE SPREADER ROD RECIPROCALLY MOUNTED IN SAID BASE ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID GUIDE SURFACE, SAID ROD HAVING AN UPPER POSITION, A LOWER POSITION, AND A FASTENER CHAIN GAP-RECEIVABLE TIP DISPOSED IN SAID PATH OF TRAVEL BETWEEN SAID RECESS AND SAID EXIT END IN SAID UPPER POSITION AND OUT OF SAID PATH OF TRAVEL IN SAID LOWER POSITION, SAID TIP HAVING A SLIDER-ENGAGEABLE PORTION ADJACENT SAID RECESS, MEANS FOR SWINGING SAID ARM INTO AND OUT OF SAID POSITION, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ROD INTO SAID UPPER AND LOWER POSITIONS THEREOF. 